5,000 and counting

muse #484 - large networks of unrealized potential

Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash

My LinkedIn network recently exceeded 5,000 connections. And this has taken about twelve years to build and continues to grow at around 500-750 connections per year.

It is a highly curated network and perhaps a network built on like or similar interests. A bias by itself. Because this network is based on conformance to certain norms and beliefs.

I have talked about the law of numbers before. In these networks, I probably know about 100-200 people well. Perhaps can recognize 500 or so faces. And maybe, just maybe know about 1,000 of them in the periphery where their names ring a bell. And the rest not so much.

My first level connection leads to a second level connection of about 1.3 million people through them. Out of the current LinkedIn population of about 824 million as of today (how many of those are bots we know not). Yes, we know these networks are engineered by AI which exposes you to what LinkedIn wants you to see or read. Or keep your feed busy doing in order for you to stay there.

I also have some Meetup groups on agility and complexity with a volunteer sign-up of around 2,000 members. Certainly, these networks can’t just be there to bolster my ego. To pep me up and make me believe that I exist.

The next step for these of course is the question - what do I do with these networks? What useful purpose can I leverage them for? To what end? And these are good questions to help me align with my personal purpose in 2022 and beyond.